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Monday, June 11, 2007

SEALY' D AND DELIVERED

(update) Twilight Meteor preps for Plate

Peachtree Stables' TWILIGHT METEOR, at worst the third favourite for the Queen's Plate on June 24 worked 4 furlongs in 49 4/5 this morning at Belmont. The colt emerged well from the prep and is still on target for the Plate. Owned John Fort said there is no deal in the works to sell the colt and said the colt is training well."It's a prestigious race with a lot of tradition," said Fort about the Plate. The colt's trainer Todd Pletcher won the Belmont stakes on the weekend with RAGS TO RICHES. John Velazquez is expected to ride the Meteor in the Plate.

SEALY HILL wins OAKS

94 Beyer in Oaks, is Plate next?

WOODBINE’s grandstand, apron, tent area and bars and restaurants were quiet full for a super day of racing yesterday – the 52nd Labatt Woodbine Oaks.

What a show of horsemanship by trainer MARK CASSE and his assistants including the tireless RICKY GRIFFITH as the stable marched through horses in 6 races, winning all three stakes events including the biggee with SEALY HILL and finishing second in two of the stakes and another race on the card.

Casse, a long time advocate of racing at Woodbine, was rewarded for his loyalty to Canadian racing and for bringing owners and horses into our industry. Clients of his like: WOODFORD RACING won two of the stakes, EUGENE MELNYK won the Oaks and CHARLES LALOGGIA was 2nd in the Victoria Park with Skip Code.

Also in the team is PATRICK HUSBANDS (who rode all three stakes winners) who helped Casse get SEALY HILL’s mind straightened out after that disastrous run in the KENTUCKY OAKS when trounced 26 lengths.

“We just did a lot of gallops with her behind horses in the mornings,” said Husbands. “The key was to get her to relax.”

Casse had been saying all along he was shocked at the filly’s Oaks performance but cited the fast pace that was close to early in the race and the fast move by super filly RAGS TO RICHES to go by, bothered and confused the filly and she simply stopped running.

“The real Sealy was here today,” said Casse.

The POINT GIVEN – BOSTON TWIST, BOSTON HARBOR filly had a nice trip as heavily favoured STREET SOUNDS went fast on the pace and another fave, SASKAWEA was glued to her all the way. The pace was torrid and somewhat surprising since it didn’t appear to come up that quick on paper.

Sealy Hill parked herself in the second flight of fillies with BELLEPLAINE (the other Melnyk filly) and then methodically got closer with a 3 path advance.

She drew off turning for home and looked strong at the wire.

The time of 1:50 3/5 was the fastest for an Oaks since SILENT FLEET in 1996.

Naturally, the question of running her back in the Plate in 2 weeks was on the minds of reporters. When asked, Casse said it would be up to Melnyk but that they “felt pretty good” with Marchfield (Melnyk’s Plate colt who was 2nd in the Trial.).

Sealy Hill’s Beyer Figure of 94 would make her the highest last-race Beyer Figure horse in the Plate field if she ran…but she could bounce too.

Saskawea was a strong 2nd, 4 ½ lengths clear of Street Sounds. Elisabeth Alexander’s CHRISTIES TREASURE was 4th and Sam-Son Farms’ QUIET JUNGLE was 5th.

Two fillies were pulled up and trotted over the wire – FUHRLEEN, the maiden full sister to Wando, and BELLEPLAINE.

Casse said the stakes triple sweep was the best day of his career (he won the Met Mile with Exciting Story!) and thought Sealy Hill was his best chance.

Meanwhile, APPROVAL RATING had a nice trip to win the Victoria Park for 3yo’s at 1 1/8 miles and was the favourite.

The Lemon Drop Kid colt is out of the With Approval mare Classic Approval. The colt is a Florida-bred. His time

The Alywow Stakes, for 3yo fillies was a cavalry charge for the last part of the 6 ½ furlongs on the grass and it appeared as if Woodford’s Canadian-bred filly QUIET ACTION was going to win but her stablemate SILKY SMOOTH got past her at the wire. The Beyer was an 80 for 1:15 3/5.

Silky Smooth is a Kentucky-bred by Mr. Greeley – Sapphire N’ Silk by Pleasant Tap.

Other interesting events yesterday was that wild 2yo colt race (race 6) in which 4 juveniles hit the wire together and first-timer MIGHTY VOW (Chantal Sutherland) came out the winner for Camilla Farms and trainer Norm DeSouza. The Broken Vow Maryland-bred edged Bob Costigan’s homebred Druids Mound (by Smart Strike) and the Florida-bred Full Mandate colt WHERE INEEDTOBE.

Ontario-breds took the first two races with the pretty grey mare COUSIN SALLY (With Approval) winning the first race for $37,500 claiming and QUIDLY QUEST (Lite the Fuse) winning the second race for Love 2 Win Stable. The second race was a $50,000 claimer for 3yo’s.

There were a couple of double-wines recorded by jockeys COREY FRASER and JUSTIN STEIN on the card.

Betting on the day of $2.6 million seems a bit low for the amount of people and horses in the races.


DON'T TAKE HIM FOR A PIGGYBACK RIDE!

Is this guy huge or what? PIGGYBACK CART is for sale...check out PHASE 2 THOROUGHBREDS.COM.


ENTRY QUERIES, OTHER QUESTIONS

Some readers are not happy that horses owned by the same owner are not coupled in races. What is your opinion as to whether entries should be brought back for stakes races?

I was asked my opinion on the Belmont Stakes telecast – I thought it was very good and I like that they come back from a commercial with some good music and scenes of races. The features and interviews with folks (not just jockeys) were all interesting. I just want to continue to see racing on the big networks – where it should be.

As for the WOODBINE POLYTRACK, I am gathering that the track is improving as the new wax and jelly sprinkles, I mean jelly cable, is settling in. In conversations with many trainers during the last 2 days, the breakdowns in the mornings may be up slightly but there have been hardly any during racing. What I am understanding is that breakdowns are down in numbers.


The Ruffian movie was part of many conversations yesterday at the track. Most people liked it from I gathered.

OTHER STUFF


CATCH THE THRILL, the champion 2yo filly of last year, is being pointed to the Bison City Stakes (second jewel of the Triple Tiara) according to trainer Mark Frostad. The filly has yet to race this year after having surgery last fall.

REATA’S ROCKET, who was once on the trail to the Queen’s Plate, was 4th in the Rumson Stakes at Monmouth Park yesterday behind CHEROKEE COUNTRY.

Canadian-bred HOMESTEADER (Pioneering-Sugarloaf) was 3rd in the Skipat Stakes at Pimlico on Saturday and earned a 90 Beyer Figure.

American stallion VINDICATION had his first winner on the weekend when GALIANO won at Lone star Park for owner and breeder Padua Stables.

Bombs away at FORT ERIE yesterday when BODEAN (Regal Discovery) won the 6th race, a maiden allowance race,for owners Sue and Tim Milligan Lister and trainer Sam McComb (featured in a story in the Niagara Review not long ago and linked on this site three days ago). The 7 furlong race was on the grass and it was Bodean’s first turf test (he’s out of the Money By Oreleans mare Dancinginthelight). He was 48 to 1.

STAG HUNT was 57 to 1 and was 2nd (Tejabo – Runalong Dear) and it was his first test and 15 to 1 CATS GOOD TO GO was another neck back in 3rd. The triactor paid $27,000


CAPTAIN DUDLEY SAVED…

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2003741785_brewer10.html

LINKS TO IMAGES OF BELMONT AND UNDERCARD STAKES

Provided by horse-races.net

Belmont Stakes coverage: http://www.horse-races.net/library/bel07-results.htm

Slide show version: http://horseracing.about.com/od/triplecrown2000/ss/aa060907a.htm

Undercard turf stakes: Manhattan, Just A Game, Foresta: http://www.horse- races.net/library/bel07-uc1results.htm

Undercard main track stakes: Acorn, Woody Stephens, True North, Birdstone: http://www.horse-races.net/library/bel07-uc2results.htm

Slide show of undercard stakes for males (Manhattan, Woody Stephens, True North, Birdstone): http://horseracing.about.com/od/triplecrown2000/ss/aa060907b.htm

Slide show of undercard stakes for fillies&mares (Acorn, Just A Game, Foresta): http://horseracing.about.com/od/triplecrown2000/ss/aa060907c.htm

16 Comments:

  • At 8:40 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    I like that horses are not coupled. You get better odds on the horse you do like. I remember liking Grindstone in the derby. But since he was coupled with Editor's Note my odds were way lower than they would have been if he ran as a separate entry.

     
  • At 9:44 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Hi, Jen:

    I read the story about Captain Dudley being saved from slaughter. FYI the Toronto Star's food critic, Amy Pataki, has an article in last Saturday's edition, "17 Foods To Try Before You Die", in which she recommended eating HORSE! I quote --

    "Sweeter, leaner and redder than beef. Eating horse is traditional in other countries and LEGAL IN OURS. Don't be squeamish. Try it at La Palette, Coca and other omnivorous restaurants."

    I'm sorry - this is at least the fourth time in recent memory that this woman has highlighted eating horse. I believe one of her articles was entitled "Revenge on Mr. Ed". Our horses have laid down their lives to help us fight wars and plow fields. They race and show for our pleasure. My horses are not bred to be served up as someone's dinner - horses are and should be regarded as companion animals in our society. The U.S. has at least started the ball rolling by banning the slaughter of horses for human consumption and we should follow suit.

    Please, everyone out there reading Jen's blog who has a heart and loves our horses - please protest this woman's writing by contacting her at
    apataki@thestar.ca.

     
  • At 9:55 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Sam McComb:
    I didn't bet on on the FE race, but like a Monday morning QB, I looked up a 10 year old Bill Olmsteads Trainer Patterns and it said:
    McComb Sam --7 Days

    Bodean's last race was 7 days ago. Hmmm!

     
  • At 10:01 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Uncouple!!!

    I remember a particular race at Fort Erie a few years age. A near riot broke out.

    Entered in the race was a very strong entry going off at very low odds. The entry consisted of a very good horse and a much weaker stablemate. Anyway... as they were loading the horses, a jockey got hurt and they unloaded the horses while they waited for a replacement rider. It was taking forever and the horses/jocks/and fans were getting annoyed with the long delay.
    As I recall, they ended up scratching the horse but as they were reloading another problem developed. You guessed it, the horse that was the strong part of the entry got hurt and was scratched at the gate.
    Now the racing public was left with a very weak betting prospect going off at very low odds.
    The weaker part of the entry never hit the board and the betting public got screwed once again.

    The moral of the story... let them run as separate entries.

    C.E.

     
  • At 12:10 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    The belmont telecast was poor. It was not sharp, the analysts with the exception of Kenny Mayne seemed ill-prepared and the story on the abuse jockey's take while riding, although correct was done in very poor taste. We could probably all criticize NBC's broadcasts, but I feel brothers, battaglia and stevens are just far superior analysts then what ESPN/ABC provide. I really wonder why one of the big networks haven't secured Frank Lyons for these big races. Lyons is CLEARLY the most talented handicapper in the business as well as the most entertianing. When people on this blog talk about selling the sport, broadcast talent is overlooked as a key element to the entertainment of the sport. Hey just think, who was most people's favourite character in Seabiscuit? I'll give you 10-1 that it was Tick Tock!

     
  • At 1:52 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    This is a reply to 9:13 Anon from yesterday, regarding coupled entries from the same owner/trainer.

    If you tell me to stop whining and to sharpen up my handicapping, I have this to tell you. I play the races and handicap horses for a living. Do you? Most weeks, my weekly wagering total exceeds $10,000, does yours?

    Unless you can answer yes to those two questions, you're better off not displaying your ignorance by shutting your mouth. Not coupling entries leads to manipulation of results and my personal livelihood is highly dependent on the least amount of manipulation possible. Additionally, I'm quite sure the casual player and other owners/trainers would also want a level playing field. One step in achieving this is to couple horses from the same owner/trainer.

     
  • At 1:56 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    We certainly agree that the Score should carry Belmont races (or Churchill) in addition to Woodbine. The class of horses is much, much better. We turn to another channel when FE races are on.

    We are not forom the capitol of the universe but do enjoy good racing.

     
  • At 6:12 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    My opinion on entries is the racing secretary call in A favour to fill A race in most cases struggles to fill a decent field very easy to spot.
    Bob bc

     
  • At 6:19 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    My comment on entries at any track is to ask the racing secretary does he call in markers to fill his race with trainers.
    It very easy to spot at woodbine.
    Bob B.C

     
  • At 7:45 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    re.Sky Conqueror what do you mean by "tying up"?
    Bill

     
  • At 9:51 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Piggyback Cart is my choice in tomorrow's 7th race at the Fort.

    Anon 9:55, Irish Dave is on the lawn for the 6th tomorrow. McComb trained, and and a half brother to Bodean, but he's been off too long (9 days).

     
  • At 10:47 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Handsome guy, that Piggyback cart.
    I see that he's entered in the seventh race at FE tomorrow.

     
  • At 9:20 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    The 6th race at Fort Erie on Sunday June 10th was notable for a few reasons. A pair of bombs hit the exactor, but did anyone notice the shoddy groundskeeping on the Fort turf? The runner up Stag Hunt had the lead about a sixteenth from the wire when he had lost momentum after stumbling through the thick brush that passes for turf.

    I had $10 to win and place on the horse (who went off at 57 to 1) and instead of cashing for the win and place, i had to settle for the place only. $250 is not a bad score, but a word to the Fort groundscrew....PLEASE CUT THE GRASS !!!

     
  • At 8:00 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    No, Annon 1.52pm, you want the result so much in your favor by lessening the options.

    Good handicapping will identify this, even if uncoupled. Whether you win or lose is another factor.

    The only time this should be a concern (if that), is when one operates as a 'rabbit' and you, Mr High and Mighty, will also be aware of that.

    Let the horses race, if the 'outsider' wins on merit, great, that's racing.



    And stop whining, it's getting tedious! You'll be wanting the result before the race at this rate.

     
  • At 3:45 AM, Blogger the_drake said…

    I find it funny that you work for the same publication that has someone who endorses eating horse, but you rag on a Fort Eire trainer for saying something just as offensive to the equine athelete. Lets see some consistancy, and maybe you can coax Ms. Pataki to attend the Long Run Gala. If you're going to make sombody look like a killer don't save the worst person involved just because she's in your office. I would love to throw her from the window, now that would be an article with shock value.

     
  • At 1:04 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Please, Jennifer should get no flak for what Ms. Pataki said - everyone knows Jen has always been behind the kind and humane treatment of our horses. And I hope that you and everyone else that logs on to this blog has written The Star asking for Ms. Pataki's resignation. As one friend of mine penned, although Ms. Pataki states eating horsemeat is "traditional" in other cultures, so is female genital mutilation.

     

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